Spoiler:

Maikumaru stood in front of the entrance to his cave. For the past couple of years he had claimed this cave as his home. He hadn’t realized how emotionally attached to it he had become. On his shoulder was a large scroll. He was going to seal all of his belongings within it. Of course, the Tsuchikage couldn’t live inside a cave. Even though it was completely unlike Maikumaru, he had to keep up SOME professional image. Placing the seal on the ground he grabbed a hold of his boulder, and shoved it off to the side. He walked inside his home. Looking at all of his workout equipment and books, and food. He unrolled the scroll on the ground. It was fifteen meters long, with inscriptions covering most of it. He started with his workout equipment, dragging them across the ground and throwing them on the scroll. Along came his sleeping bag, his books, his cooler. Creating the correct hand seals, it all vanished into smoke. He rolled the seal back up, and placed it on his shoulder. He thought about the reason he came to the Mountains in the first place. Bandits. They still posed some sort of problem. “Might have to grab some of the forces and deal with them, once and for all. He shrugged once more. He turned around to see a hand grasp the edge of the cliff. Maikumaru cocked his head to the side. When the figure lifted himself up he realised it was the messenger who would come by to give him missions. He doubled over, heaving. “Thank the Sage I don’t have to go through this anymore...Lord Tsuchikage.” Maikumaru shivered at the honorific. “I will never get used to that. So what brings you by.”

“Well I have a mission for you.” He waved a small scroll.

“Oh, I still get to do missions?”

“I figured that you would at least want one more before you are completely stuffed in the Kage position.”

“That’s what I’m talkin’ about. What’s the mission?” The Messenger opened the scroll.

“It’s the right hand man of an infamous Bandit Leader. He stuffed the corpses of a woman and child with illicit objects. You must bring him to his execution.” Maikumaru’s blood boiled at the thought of the horrid act. He smirked a devilish, clenching his teeth and fists. “Can I just kill him on the spot?” The messenger laughed.

“I’d imagine it would be better for your image if you showed constraint.”

“Did you forget who you’re talking to? Like I give a damn about image.”

“Well, there’s the mission. Do with it what you will. I have to get going. Congratulations on becoming Tsuchikage.”

“Can you do me a favor. Take this big ass scroll with you, and leave it at the new estate.” He huffed and retrieved the large scroll. He turned to exit the cave before turning around. “And by the way, you will have somebody coming along with you. A Chunin. He’s pretty lucky to be chaperoned by the Tsuchikage himself if you ask me.” He walked off from the mountain and was gone. Maikumaru cracked his neck back and forth and then his knuckles. He was happy he could still be able to do missions like he always had. However, with what was up and coming, that wouldn’t be much of a frequent activity.

Maikumaru was at the village gate, keeping his head down. He was waiting for his supposed partner for this mission.

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